I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
By: Maya Angelou
A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
And floats downstream till the current ends
And dips his wing in the orange sun's rays
And dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage.
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still.
And his tune is heard on the distant hill,
For the caged bird sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze,
And the trade winds soft through the sighing trees,
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams,
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream,
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied,
So he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still.
And his tune is heard on the distant hill,
For the caged bird sings of freedom.
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